Apparently, Not Being an Idiot is Too Challenging

[Richard]

To blend in a couple recent threads into this one...

I was cutting the field yesterday wearing my hearing protection. As I was cutting, I heard a (soft) "pinggggg". I was kinda wondering what it was that I heard, looked around, all seemed fine, so I continued on.

As I made a left turn up ahead, I hit some longer grass, so turned behind me to raise mower a bit and looked back... I noticed I'd lost one of the retaining pins that held the antisway bar on the cutter and the bar was dragging on the ground.

Hmm... (while clutching) If I reach back (pretzled over) I can maybe reach &...

then I just stopped & thought STUPID.

Turned engine OFF, waited til blades STOPPED, dismounted, replaced sway bar & put new pin into holder. Got back on, started up & continued on my way, merrily intact and only 38 seconds "behind scheduel".

So, in regards to "why wear hearing protection to drown out potential noises" kind of logic... I DID still hear the "ping" as the clip exploded?? or did what ever it did to jump off. I also then waited until it was 100% safe to dismount & fiddle with the mower.

Had I not been a ardent TBN reader, I would have probably left engine running, killed blades but tried to put arm back on while blades coasted down, rather than complete stop. It's because of TBN that I had the thought of the possiblity of an accident, that I waited.


Is this a cool place or what?

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[rims421]

Here is what I do to try and prevent the scenario you just described. When I contemplate doing somthing stupid / dangerous. I think back to a previous injury I sustained that was totally my fault. I have plenty to choose from. I think back to how much longer it took me to finish the job after the bleeding was brought under control or the wife brought me home from the hospital. The worst feeling in the world is when you get hurt and you knew what you are doing is wrong and could have been prevented. If you are lucky you may have a long recovery time to think about it. If you are unlucky you may have only a short time to think about your life as it slips away.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

 

[AlanB]

For me personaly, the greatest danger is when I get in a rush and am distracted.

Driving down a not too steep hill on Friday, 3rd gear w HST, ROPS up, no seat belt cause I was just running over there, after getting up to speed, I remembered that I needed something back at the truck and reflexively cut the wheel over hard.

As the tractor rolled onto two wheels, my dad standing there watching, I thought about that I had no seatbelt on, and turned back down the hill and caught it.

As far as time to do something, and jumping off or whatever, all that went through my mind was awwwww sh## turning in was pure reflex.

Made me stop and slow down a bit and remember to put safety and smart moves a little higher on the list.